#4: The Phoenix Tribe (4)

Zi Chen, using magic to gather his silver hair, walked out of the Phoenix Nest. Most of the onlookers had dispersed, but he could still see Yao Yin standing at the very front, looking left and right, craning her neck.

Beside Yao Yin stood a woman in colorful robes, elegantly dressed. She had been waiting outside the gate for a long time, only for the arrival of her future husband—the Phoenix Prince, Zi Chen. She was Ling Que, the daughter of the Peacock Tribe’s patriarch, formerly Gu Yu, who had roamed the Three Realms searching for Zi Chen for many years. Her appearance now was vastly different from when she was a ghost demon. Before, she was merely a disguised small servant girl hidden in the Ghost Tribe; now, she was a figure second only to one in the Peacock Tribe, her nobility comparable to that of the Phoenix Patriarch. An ancient jade pendant hung from her waist, and three pearl ornaments adorned her head. Coupled with her radiant beauty, she undoubtedly brought a splash of vivid color to the otherwise monochromatic Fenghua Village. At this moment, it was as if all the world’s brilliance was concentrated on her.

Ling Que saw Zi Chen walking towards her, immediately raised an eyebrow, and said proudly, “Don’t think I’ll marry...”

Before the word ‘you’ could be uttered, Zi Chen, without a glance, brushed past her.

“I am the eldest princess of the Peacock Tribe! How dare you ignore me?” Ling Que was furious. She turned and roared, “You’re just a lost prince! The Phoenix Tribe is almost extinct! Why are you acting so cold and noble? Stop right there!” Ling Que reached out to stop Zi Chen, but the moment she touched him, she was thrown back by an invisible protective barrier. She immediately vomited blood and fainted.

Zi Chen acted as if he hadn’t heard anything, slowly walking and stopping in front of Yao Yin, who was staring dumbfounded at Ling Que behind him.

“Is she... okay?” Yao Yin asked worriedly.

Zi Chen shook his head: “Don’t bother with her.”

Yao Yin nodded, saying no more. She noticed that since Zi Chen emerged from the Phoenix Nest, his entire demeanor had elevated, making him feel somewhat unfamiliar. But soon, she cast this unfamiliarity aside and thoroughly examined Zi Chen from head to toe, reassuring herself that all his injuries, except for his eyes, had healed.

Yao Yin breathed a long sigh of relief: “Now that your injuries are healed, I’m relieved. You have no idea how worried I’ve been about you these past few days!”

“Fool,” Zi Chen said, lowering his head, a faint, composed smile playing on his lips.

Yao Yin looked at Zi Chen’s smile and felt more and more that he was different from before. Such a smile seemed like a mask worn constantly, not a genuine expression of happiness.

“Congratulations, Imperial Son-in-Law,” Yao Yin poked Zi Chen’s shoulder with her elbow, ingratiatingly saying, “The Phoenix Tribe is an ancient divine tribe, and that Ling Que seems to like you very much. If you marry the Peacock Princess and appear in the Li Hen Heaven as the Phoenix Clan Leader, Emperor Qing will surely be impressed!” She had intended to use this to bridge the distance between them, but instead, Zi Chen’s smile faded, and his entire aura grew a few shades darker.

“It’s nothing,” Zi Chen uttered two words, seemingly disinclined to continue the conversation.

“What’s wrong? You seem a bit off today,” Yao Yin noticed his unhappiness and added, “If something’s bothering you, tell me, so I can be happy.”

Zi Chen shook his head: “Nothing.”

No sooner had he spoken than a crisp ‘slap’ echoed. Yao Yin had raised her hand and slapped Zi Chen across the face. Those nearby gasped in collective shock.

“You must not be fully awake yet, right?” Yao Yin said, crossing her arms, with an innocent expression, “Do you feel a little more awake now?”

“...” Zi Chen stood rooted to the spot, covering his face, unable to utter a single word, with no further movement for a long time.

“Looks like he’s still not awake,” Yao Yin said, raising her right hand again, but this time, before her hand could descend, Zi Chen caught her wrist just in time.

“Are you mad?” Zi Chen frowned. Although his face was covered with a white silk band, Yao Yin still felt his intense gaze upon her.

Yao Yin chuckled awkwardly and said, “You looked so lifeless, I thought you hadn’t woken up yet, so I helped you clear your head.” As she spoke, she wiggled her wrist, pleading, “It hurts a little.”

Zi Chen sighed, said nothing more, and released her hand.

Yao Yin stood beside Zi Chen, feeling a little deflated. For some reason, as she looked at his profile, she felt he was now somewhat unapproachable. Her belly full of longing suddenly had no idea where to begin expressing itself. Could it be... that they couldn’t go back to how they were before?

It made no sense for them to have grown so distant in just three days.

What exactly went wrong...

They stood in front of the Phoenix Nest for a while, and the crowd of onlookers grew larger again. Zi Chen seemed uncomfortable with their presence. He looked around and then said to Yao Yin, “I’m a little tired and want to rest. Where is your room?”

His words pulled Yao Yin back from her contemplation. She pointed to the winding country path ahead and said, “Turn left up there, then right, then the third intersection go all the way to the end and turn left... oh, no, it’s right... I think it’s left... never mind, I’ll take you.” As Yao Yin spoke, she naturally took Zi Chen’s hand and led him forward.

Zi Chen allowed her to hold his hand, his face showing no emotion, neither storm nor sun.